“New York colleges can do better by student voters”: Jonathan Becker and Sierra Ford ’26 Pen Op-Ed in Times Union

“American democracy is in trouble.” In an op-ed for the Times Union, Jonathan Becker, vice president for academic affairs and director of the Center for Civic Engagement at Bard College, and Sierra Ford ’26, coleader of Election@Bard and president of Bard Student Government, advocate for the passage of Student Voter Empowerment Act, a bill which “seeks to foster informed student electoral participation by requiring New York institutions of higher learning to systematize and expand their engagement with student voters.” After federal encroachment on nonpartisan efforts to engage student voters, Becker and Ford believe that the Student Voter Empowerment Act could serve as a state-level corrective, increasing civic engagement and young voter turnout. “New York’s college students are our country’s future engaged citizens and leaders,” they write. “The Legislature and governor should respond to the current moment by passing the Student Voter Empowerment Act.”

Post Date: 03-17-2026